November 2 is All Souls Day, which is observed by a section of the Christian community. Relatives honour their dear departed, offering thanksgiving prayers at their graveyards. Given the nature of the observance, the community has demanded improvements at the St. Mary’s Cemetery ahead of the special day. Their major demand is the fixing of lamps.
Of the 32 high mast lamps at the four-acre cemetery, only three are burning.
“Last year, before All Souls Day, the Corporation fixed lamps. Some of them burned for a few weeks. Most others went into disrepair very soon,,” says a staff working at the cemetery.
The cemetery closes at 6 p.m. but visitors say lights are important to keep a check on anti-social elements and also in the event of a funeral getting delayed.
With All Souls Day (November 2) approaching, the Christian community want the Corporation to fix lamps and also look into other issues. .
Our Lady of Guidance Church at Santhome, which has been maintaining the cemetery since 1998, is yet to get their letter of renewal from the Chennai Corporation. The agreement is renewed every three years. The term of the Church ended in March.
The cemetery is used by nearly 200 churches of different denominations in the city. But, discrepancy followed by contractors in building the tomb over the graves has resulted in much of the space being eaten up. Recently, the parish priest of Our Lady of Guidance Church sent a letter to the Corporation asking them to insist that people only go for mud graves.
“Mud graves are more environment-friendly and can be re-used after five years unlike tombs,” said Father P.S. Kanickairaj, parish priest.
“We only maintain the cemetery, permissions and enforcement of rules can only be done by the Corporation,” he said.
The church also wants pathways built across the cemetery so that people do not have difficulty in carrying the dead.
A corporation official said lights will be fixed before All Souls Day. With regard to renewing the contract of maintenance of the cemetery, the paper work is on.
